Description

On a cool March evening of 2008, motorists on Highway 147 in Auburn, Alabama were startled to see a young girl in the road. She was naked, crying, covered in road rash and waving her arms desperately for help. Despite everyone’s best efforts, 18 year old Lauren Burk did not survive her ordeal. She had been shot and and bled out within 2 to 3 minutes after jumping from a moving car. The Auburn University student had been carjacked in a campus parking lot. The ensuing trial for her murderer, Courtney Lockhart, called into question many troubling aspects of the law. The standard for mental incompetency as well as the Alabama law that a judge can override a jury’s recommendation.  

Trigger Warning: Discussion of PTSD due to combat

 
 

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Show Notes

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley

Researched and written by Haley Gray

Additional writing by Erica Kelley

Research Assistance by Anna Luria

Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner

Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio

Edited & Mixed by Erica Kelley


Sources:

  1. https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama/court-of-appeals-criminal/2013/cr-10-0854.html

  2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2015/03/lockhartpetition.pdf

  3. http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Courtney-Lockhart-USSC-Reply-Brief-03-16-15.pdf

  4. http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Courtney-Lockhart-USSC-States-BIO-03-02-15.pdf

  5. https://acis.alabama.gov/displaydocs.cfm?no=1075174&event=6180UO337

  6. http://www.doc.state.al.us/InmateHistory

  7. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25091194/lauren-ashley-burk

  8. https://www.al.com/wire/2011/03/courtney_lockhart_convicted_of.html

  9. https://www.al.com/news/2014/11/family_of_murdered_auburn_stud.html

  10. https://www.wrbl.com/sports/local-sports/auburn/she-fought-to-the-very-end-remembering-lauren-burk/

  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20210310004334/https://oanow.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/a-cool-march-night-lauren-burks-last-day-unraveled/article_d7b68c1a-5e2b-11ea-a869-2f1fe1d62cb4.html

  12. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lauren-burk-murder-verdict-iraq-war-veteran-guilty-of-capital-murder/

  13. https://www.alabamaag.gov/newsviewer/4579decf-59a5-492b-995b-a416075faa8e

  14. https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2010/11/16/testimony-heard-about-night-of-au-student-slaying/28361969007/

  15. https://www.wtvm.com/story/13502658/trial-resumes-in-slaying-of-au-student-from-ga/

  16. https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2008/03/11/confession-in-auburn-slaying-read-in-court/27744537007/

  17. https://www.newspapers.com/image/422689376/?terms=lauren%20burk&match=1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/422689759/?terms=lauren%20burk

  18. https://www.newspapers.com/image/422694355/?terms=lauren%20burk&match=1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/422694453/

  19. https://www.newspapers.com/image/422707380/?terms=lauren%20burk&match=1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/422707403/ 

  20. https://www.newspapers.com/image/850998425/?terms=lauren%20burk&match=1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/850998465/?terms=lauren%20burk

  21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/860367690/, https://www.newspapers.com/image/860367711/

  22. https://www.wtvm.com/story/9944477/lauren-burks-mom-i-dont-understand-it/ 

  23. https://www.ajc.com/news/local/prosecution-builds-case-burk-murder-trial/6mT1SfLJbz3eP5mK8kCO3M/